Environmental Protection & Sustainability

The Canaries face a paradox: Their spectacular nature is the main reason why 16 million tourists come annually — and this very tourism threatens the delicate ecosystem.

Water Scarcity

Water is the most precious resource of the Canaries. The eastern islands (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura) are extremely dry — almost all drinking water here comes from seawater desalination plants. Massive desalination also occurs on Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The energy expenditure for this is enormous. Every hotel pool, every irrigated golf course exacerbates the problem.

El Hierro — A Model for the World

The smallest Canary Island takes a different path: With the wind-hydro hybrid "Gorona del Viento", El Hierro temporarily produces 100% of its electricity from renewable sources — a model studied worldwide. The island was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2000 and consistently focuses on gentle tourism.

What You Can Do as a Traveler

• Save water: Take short showers, reuse towels — it sounds trivial, but it makes a real difference in the Canaries
• Respect hiking trails: Do not go cross-country — the volcanic vegetation takes decades to regenerate. A single step can destroy a lichen that took 50 years to grow
• Leave no litter: Especially on beaches and in the mountains. Cigarette butts are a massive problem
• Buy local products: Canarian bananas instead of imported ones, local cheese and wine instead of supermarket goods — this strengthens sustainable agriculture
• Sunscreen: Use reef-friendly sunscreen — conventional creams harm the underwater world